The Canton of Zurich's Vocational Training Fund has established itself as a mainstay of the dual education system. With over CHF 23 million, it supports training companies, promotes practical innovations and contributes to securing skilled labour. The 2024 annual report impressively demonstrates

Empa receives the prestigious Building Award 2025 for a pioneering concrete process. With the help of biochar pellets, the building material is not only climate-friendly, but also actively stores CO₂. The award-winning development is an example of a profound change in the construction industry

The Interreg project Walz 4.0 is creating an ambitious model for sustainable construction in the four-country region of Lake Constance. Under the leadership of the ZHAW, craftsmanship expertise, academic knowledge and digital technologies are being combined. The aim is a building culture that

A research team at ETH Zurich has developed a novel, 3D-printable building material that stores carbon dioxide not only in biomass, but also in the form of mineral compounds. The gel with embedded cyanobacteria could transform façades into living carbon reservoirs in the future and thus radically

The canton of Basel-Stadt is currently trialling new furniture for Basel's meeting zones. CO2-neutral and cement-reduced concrete is being tested for the production of benches and plant troughs. The aim is to make the meeting zones as climate-friendly as

A research team at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is looking for cement formulations that reduce CO2-intensive clinker in cement mixtures. The researchers used a modelling method supported by artificial intelligence

HORTUS, a new type of office building that focuses on radical sustainability, from construction to operation, has opened in Allschwil. The project is part of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area and combines CO₂ reduction, circular economy and user comfort. The space is already almost fully

Many companies have long been operating in a circular way without realising it. In their new publication, authors André Podleisek and Nicolas Hofer show how everyday practices contribute to the circular economy and what economic benefits this brings. Their model offers SMEs and start-ups a

With the "Swiss Plastic Pipe Recycling" project, VSPR and VKR, together with leading partners, are launching a nationwide system for taking back and recycling plastic pipes. The aim is to create a nationwide material cycle that is ecologically and economically sound and taps into previously

The Association of Swiss Plastic Recyclers and the Association of Plastic Pipes and Pipe Components have launched the Swiss Plastic Pipe Recycling project. The aim is to recycle plastic pipes throughout Switzerland for the first time. Companies such as Burkhalter, Eberhard, Meier Tobler, Geberit

The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) has put the move-MEGA methanisation plant into operation. This is intended to improve the power-to-gas process by means of sorption-enhanced

Strabag has installed a filter well in Trubschachen. The well was installed at a depth of 25 metres using a hydraulic cable excavator and will secure the region's drinking water supply for the next 70 to 80

Switzerland ranks at the bottom of Europe in terms of electricity production from wind and solar power. according to a study by the Swiss Energy Foundation, 11 per cent of domestic electricity production is generated in this way. This is 7.2 percentage points more than five years ago. Neighbouring

Lignum Holzwirtschaft Bern has published a series of brochures under the name "Forest and Wood Compass". The practical documents are intended to support authorities and administrations in the sustainable use of

The town of Dietikon plans to start construction work on the stream adventure trail in Grunschen Park on 7 July. The natural Kneipp facility should be completed by late summer. The canton of Zurich and the town of Dietikon are investing a total of CHF 160,000 in the

The Durabilitas Foundation for Sustainable Development has worked with partners to develop recommendations on how soils can be better taken into account in spatial planning. Applications in other countries and Swiss pilot projects were analysed for this

Megasol has developed special photovoltaic modules for the façade of the Bern 131 project in WankdorfCity. Together with the roof system, the shimmering blue modules will generate around 340,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. The building created by Atelier 5 is SNBS

After around a year of construction, the new meeting zone at Schlieren railroad station has been completed. With more green spaces, street cafés and a modern design concept, the public space is being upgraded and will be officially opened on June 20 and

With a digital guide, the IRAP and IPM institutes of the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland and the company GEOINFO Applications AG are developing a platform that can be used throughout Switzerland to support municipalities and planners in site development. The focus is on

The municipality of Glarus Nord is setting new standards in residential development with a participatory planning process along Ziegelbrückstrasse. By involving the owners at an early stage, a framework plan is being created that not only enables structural densification, but also creates identity

With a revised strategy, the city of Aarau wants to meet the urban challenges of our time in a smart way. Networking, user focus and resource conservation are at the heart of this. Digital change is seen as a tool, not an end in

The world's longest solar fence with a length of over one kilometer is being built along the Reinach - Münchenstein streetcar line. The lighthouse project combines renewable energy generation with urban infrastructure. A pioneering step towards sustainable urban

A postulate report sees no need to create further financial incentives for building renovation. Instead, the focus should be on advice and information. According to the report, there is also a good range of offers from the federal government and cantons in this

A Voltiris solar system based on filter technology has been installed on a greenhouse at Meier Gemüse AG. The system, which covers around one hectare, enables electricity to be generated without any loss of agricultural

EKZ, Repower and the municipality of Klosters officially started construction work on the Madrisa Solar power plant on 4 June. Located at an altitude of around 2000 metres, it will have a production capacity of 12 megawatts. It is intended to help close the winter electricity

The National Research Program "Baukultur" (NRP 81) was officially launched with an inspiring kick-off meeting in Thun. The participating research teams and practice partners have clearly positioned themselves as a community that wants to tackle the ecological and social challenges of the built

With its new white paper, the Center for Risk Management at HEC Lausanne (CRML) provides precise insights into the Swiss real estate industry's progress towards climate neutrality. By evaluating over 45,000 building permits in 2024, it becomes clear where the industry is already making progress and

Strüby Holding AG has successfully completed the conversion and renovation project of the listed Gütsch farmhouse. The result of nine months of construction work is a modern detached house that preserves the 530-year history and the face of the building that characterizes the

Debrunner Acifer AG has supplied the pipes for four water-bearing pressure pipes under the new cantonal police centre in Niederwangen. The centre is scheduled for completion in

A pioneering project in Bassersdorf ZH shows how green methanol can be used as seasonal energy storage. Thanks to innovative technologies, surplus summer electricity is efficiently stored and used in winter for climate-neutral heat and power supply. The new permanent exhibition in the Umwelt Arena